1.1 Introduction
An Electronic Notice Board is a medium of communicating information to many people at the same time. It is widely used in educational institutions to display information regarding examinations, results, schedules and other curricular and extra-curricular activities (Rasika et al., 2014). In any faculty there is a lot of wall notice boards placed on different location where people with announcements typed or written on a sheet of paper can place it on the notice boards for other people to read when passing through those locations. Thus, there is a lot of accumulation of littered papers due to carelessness of people who place them and no one is responsible for removing or cleaning them (Adkins, 2007). Also, the announcement may not reach the intended, as others may not pass through the notice boards. Sometimes, weather condition may affect peoples’ movement; some people may not live within the schools premises, so it becomes difficult for them to see the announcements on time. And hence there is a lot of strain on the people who intend to make announcements thereby they place it everywhere in bid to get to the desired audience. All these happens because the Electronics notice board is not used in this context (Semakuwa et al., 2014).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
One of the oldest methods used in delivering information and announcements to students in faculties is by conventional notice board. In order to read updates or announcements from the notice board, students would have to go to their faculties or departments where the notice board is located. But, as the world changes and new technologies have been discovered, the information delivery has also become more efficient and user friendly.
The growth and advancement in information technology has changed the way we live, communicate, learn and do business. As new generation of students embraced technology and some of them became attached to it, it is necessary to change the way information is being displayed, as it is often observed that whenever there is a change in seminar or class schedule, there would be some students missing the seminar or class because of not reading the notice board from time to time (Roslilee et al., 2011). This indicates that the announcement system commonly used in many faculties or universities is somewhat ineffective when the message did not spread around to reach the desired students.
Digital Display project uses LEDs in displaying streams of characters by putting ON and putting OFF these LEDs consistently and in a very fast manner that one could hardly notice the effect of this LEDs coming ON and going OFF. It consists of a small PC board containing LEDs arranged in a matrix of 5 by 7 i.e. 5columns and 7rows making up of 35 LEDs in each page. The PC board also contains an AT89S52 microcontroller. It uses this Microcontroller in controlling the ON and OFF sequence of the LED. It can also be programmed to use some scrolling effects like jumping, blinking, dropping e.t.c. when displaying the characters as programmed in the microcontroller. The hardware is grouped into two; electrical circuit and the screen (containing the LEDs). The electrical circuit is also grouped into the power circuit and the display control circuit, in the display control circuit, we have diodes, transistors, capacitors, regulator, crystal and buffers. A capacitor and resistor near the chip creates the R-C timing for the oscillator (the chip contains the rest of the components for the oscillator).
The extent of development in information dissemination has made it possible that the well-known method of displaying information using signposts, notice boards, etc has to be modified by using an electronic digital display system. In today’s rapidly advancing technology market, most conventional digital display systems are not being implemented using individual logic gates and integrated circuits (ICs) such have been used in the past instead, programmable devices such as microprocessor and microcontroller chips which contain the circuitry necessary to create logic functions are being used to implement digital systems. The use of a 555 timer as a stable multivibrator and decade counter (CD4017) can be used to build a less expensive electronic display system. The use of these two major ICs will bring about less board space, fewer power consumptions and overall, low cost in manufacturing.
Electronics notice board system, is a system electronically designed and constructed, that is used to display different information to the view of the masses. The information to be displayed could be diagrams, symbols letters, colours, numbers, codes etc depending on what is needed at a particular places and time. This without doubt, has made life easier for the people in different ways, however electronics display board, which is the heart of this system, can be described thus: an electronic display is a computer. All computers whether we are talking personal desktop computer you are using is a general-purpose computer than can run any of thousands of programs.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Challenges of the Campus Base on Electronic Notice Board and Solutions.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Investigation revealed that the notices were written on wooden notice board hanging on the wall to display announcements. The goal of electronic notice board is to provide the access to notices quickly not only within the college premises, also wherever and whenever they need to know. Electronic display board is fast gaining acceptance and application in different spheres of life which include educational institutions, public utility places. In advertisement due to the problem associated with construction of signposts and manually placement of papers on walls. All electronic boards are designed with a wired system.
Due to the various problems encountered in the manual design and construction of sign post for advertisement, there is every need for an automated electronics display system that will solve this problem. This will ensure that viewers get the adequate information that is displayed in good and attractive colors. Though the display board, a way of displaying information to the view of the people is still targeted, viewers are attracted.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Challenges of the Campus Base on Electronic Notice Board and Solutions. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To find out the challenges of implementing a campus base electronic notice board.
- To suggest possible measures on how to solve the challenges affecting the implementation of electronic notice board in Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti
1.5 Significance of the Study
Electronic digital display system plays a very vital role, such as means of advertisement, means of communication, presentations, exhibitions, identification and direction. It is also used in giving warning or safety instructions, such as warning signs, traffic signs, exit signs or signs conveying rules and regulations. This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the challenges of implementing a campus base electronic notice board?
- What are the possible measures on how to solve the challenges affecting the implementation of electronic notice board in Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti?
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